Understanding esports player preferences: which self-definitional needs drive their satisfaction?
Understanding esports player preferences: which self-definitional needs drive their satisfaction?
Purpose: esports is emerging as a global sensation, yet its distinctive nature complicates our understanding of players' motivations. This study leverages self-hierarchy and self-determination theories to examine the motivations that define players at individual, relational, and community levels, seeking to identify which motivations are most valued.
Design/methodology/approach: a mixed-method approach was employed, focusing on Honor of Kings esports players in China to explore the answers to the research questions. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted to uncover self-definitional motivations at various levels. Second, a quantitative study was conducted with 607 regular Honor of Kings players to empirically examine the effects of the identified motivations on satisfaction.
Findings: the qualitative and quantitative data results reveal that self-efficacy and self-worth at the individual level, recognition and emotional attachment from close others at the relational-self level, and cocreation and belongingness at the collective level positively influence game satisfaction. More importantly, self-definitional motivations at the relational level are valued the most. Additionally, identification with a game character moderates the effects of self-definitional motivation at the collective level and emotional attachment at the relational-self level.
Originality/value: this research delves into players' motivations for engaging with Honor of Kings, anchored in self-hierarchy and self-determination theories. It uncovers that motivations rooted in different aspects of self-identity have distinct associations with players’ satisfaction level. This suggests a vital strategy for game designers and operators to adopt: to enhance player satisfaction, they should specifically address and emphasize the aspects of self-identity that matter most to their audience.
Esports, mixed method, self-determination theory, Game satisfaction, Self-hierarchy, Game character identification
Wang, Weisha
3b06920a-f578-41b8-a356-7e2da53d3bf6
Liu, Wentong
07adc854-9921-456f-b202-02de75e8e674
Hang, Haiming
aa333911-5c26-43c4-894b-6f4a802211c6
Chen, Zhifeng
4c98f5ee-e403-4af1-ac24-c048e92c4709
Wang, Weisha
3b06920a-f578-41b8-a356-7e2da53d3bf6
Liu, Wentong
07adc854-9921-456f-b202-02de75e8e674
Hang, Haiming
aa333911-5c26-43c4-894b-6f4a802211c6
Chen, Zhifeng
4c98f5ee-e403-4af1-ac24-c048e92c4709
Wang, Weisha, Liu, Wentong, Hang, Haiming and Chen, Zhifeng
(2024)
Understanding esports player preferences: which self-definitional needs drive their satisfaction?
Internet Research.
(doi:10.1108/INTR-02-2024-0305).
Abstract
Purpose: esports is emerging as a global sensation, yet its distinctive nature complicates our understanding of players' motivations. This study leverages self-hierarchy and self-determination theories to examine the motivations that define players at individual, relational, and community levels, seeking to identify which motivations are most valued.
Design/methodology/approach: a mixed-method approach was employed, focusing on Honor of Kings esports players in China to explore the answers to the research questions. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted to uncover self-definitional motivations at various levels. Second, a quantitative study was conducted with 607 regular Honor of Kings players to empirically examine the effects of the identified motivations on satisfaction.
Findings: the qualitative and quantitative data results reveal that self-efficacy and self-worth at the individual level, recognition and emotional attachment from close others at the relational-self level, and cocreation and belongingness at the collective level positively influence game satisfaction. More importantly, self-definitional motivations at the relational level are valued the most. Additionally, identification with a game character moderates the effects of self-definitional motivation at the collective level and emotional attachment at the relational-self level.
Originality/value: this research delves into players' motivations for engaging with Honor of Kings, anchored in self-hierarchy and self-determination theories. It uncovers that motivations rooted in different aspects of self-identity have distinct associations with players’ satisfaction level. This suggests a vital strategy for game designers and operators to adopt: to enhance player satisfaction, they should specifically address and emphasize the aspects of self-identity that matter most to their audience.
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Accepted/In Press date: 23 December 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 26 December 2024
Keywords:
Esports, mixed method, self-determination theory, Game satisfaction, Self-hierarchy, Game character identification
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 498338
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498338
ISSN: 1066-2243
PURE UUID: 611c5ad4-f6f0-48db-a9bf-921db2edaa4b
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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2025 17:35
Last modified: 18 Feb 2025 02:59
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Author:
Weisha Wang
Author:
Wentong Liu
Author:
Haiming Hang
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